232 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



On reading this and looking at the drawings representing hinged flaps 

 in the leaves, we could not divest our mind of the fact, that we had often, 

 as we thought, found the larvae of these Grape Codlings under cover of 

 loose bark, and in the crevices of grape supports. 



The past fall fully sixty per cent, of our Catawba grapes were hollowed 

 out by these pernicious insects; or to state the case differently, had a 

 careful computation of these larvae at the time been made, and the same 

 of the leaves on the vines, we believe the former would have outnum- 

 bered the latter; and yet, the most careful inspection made by us and 

 others, extending on till the late frost, failed to detect a single grape 

 -worm, folded in a leaf, preparatory for summer transformation or for hiber- 

 nation. On the 23d of July of the present year, we visited Kirkwood, 

 Mo. While there we were shown a vine, in Dr. Spalding's grounds, 

 which was growing in an open field at considerable distance from other 

 vines. Aided by the doctor, we inspected each leaf of this vine, and 

 though some thirty of the grapes on it had contained grape codling larvae, 

 which had evidently reached their full size and crawled out to seek a 

 cover under which to transform, notwithstanding, not a leaf on this vine 

 had been rolled near the edge, nor had any flaps cut in them. Again, 

 late in November last, we looked over the stakes in our vineyards, and 

 finding numerous cocoons of Grape Coldings in them, we had them car- 

 ried to the wood pile and new stakes set. Either from burning these old 

 stakes, or from some other cause, this season, for the first time in seven 

 years, the Grape Codlings are so scarce in our vineyard, that probably as 

 an average not more than one wounded grape in five bunches could be 

 found. 



Does the general reader ask what particular advantage is to come 

 from knowing the habits of our insect enemies ? We answer, that such 

 knowledge is the basis of all successful remedies. For instance, plum 

 curculios are known to be timid, and to drop to the ground on the approach 

 of danger; tliis has been taken advantage of by receiving them on sheets 

 spread under the trees from which they are jarred. 



Qiiite recently it has been discovered, with respect to this same insect, 

 that in the early spring many of them seek shelter. Advantage has been 

 taken of this by providing shelter for them, by which means vast num- 

 bers of them are carught. 



As far back as 1832, Mr. Joseph BuiTel, of Massachusetts, practiced 

 laying rags in the forks of his apple trees. This was done because he 

 knew that when other cover was removed from the orchard the larvae of 

 the codling mothj'so destructive to aj)ples, would accept those in which to 

 spin their cocoons, and while there would be easily killed. So it is of 

 almost every mode of attacking our injurious insects. 



We first determine their habits, and having learned these we discover 

 some period when they may be successfully attacked. Hence, was it true 

 that grape codlings hibernated folded up in the leaves; the remedy th?*t 

 would very naturally present itself would be, to collect all the leaves in 

 the fall, and burn them; or judging from the nature of the larvae, what 

 would be equally well, plow the leaves under to rot. 



